A$AP Rocky has officially been declared not guilty on all counts in his felony assault trial, where he was accused of shooting A$AP Relli in November 2021.
After kicking off on January 24, the trial came to a close after nearly three weeks on Friday (February 14). The jury gathered to deliberate on Tuesday (February 18) and after around three hours, they came to a conclusion.
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In reaction to the news, cheers broke out and Rocky jumped over the barrier to hug his family in the front row.
As he left, Rocky told jurors, “Thank y’all for saving my life. Thank y’all for making the right decision.”
Rihanna was present in the courtroom intermittently throughout the three weeks, but on Thursday (February 13), she was joined by her and Rocky’s young sons, 2-year-old RZA and 1-year-old Riot, for the first time.
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Prosecutor Paul Przelomiec reminded jurors in his closing argument that the case boils down to whether Rocky’s gun was real or fake. The rapper claimed it was a prop gun.
Rocky was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, which would come with a maximum 24 years in prison if convicted. However, prosecutors were prepared to recommend eight to 10 years.
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The judge also reminded jurors that self defense is a valid defense if it’s determined that Rocky “reasonably believed he was in imminent danger of suffering bodily injury […] or of being touched unlawfully.”
Last week, A$AP Rocky opted to waive his right to share his side of things.
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“Do you in fact waive your right to testify?” Judge Arnold asked him, to which he replied, “I do in fact, Your Honor.”
Fellow A$AP Mob members A$AP Lou and A$AP Twelvyy are among those who have testified to corroborate Rocky’s version of events.
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During court on February 7, Twelvyy was called to the witness stand and asked by a prosecuting attorney what the letters in AWGE stood for.
AWGE is Rocky’s label and creative agency and the rapper has never publicly revealed what the initials stand for since its launch over a decade ago.
After Twelvyy avoided the question, Rocky, in a shocking move, spoke up from the defense table and ordered Twelvyy to stay silent, telling him: “Don’t say it.”
AWGE has two rules according to its website: “1) Never reveal what AWGE means. 2) When in doubt always refer to rule #1.”
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After Pretty Flacko’s controversial outburst, Twelvyy was asked by the prosecutor what Rocky had said but he denied he heard him, saying: “I heard something. I’m not too sure what I heard. I was listening to you.”
